I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 410 Stupid Woman

Chris should get married.

Summer is coming to an end and autumn is approaching; the traditional harvest festival of the Kingdom of Bagnia is just around the corner.

Elena, who stayed in Tavitsky to rest and recover some strength and dignity, along with her people, also headed to Anvil Fortress at this time.

Chris and Elena first met in the auditorium inside the Anvil Fortress.

The grand hall inside the Anvil Fortress was filled with a solemn and sublime atmosphere.

Beneath the towering stone dome, the cold glow of fluorescent lights bathed everything in a solemn white light, and the air seemed to be thick with the lingering smells of gunpowder, rust, and tears.

Chris stood on the high platform at the end of the auditorium, not dressed in fancy clothes, but in a crisp, dark green commander's uniform without any superfluous decorations. The only embellishments were the gold sash and the double-headed eagle badge.

Elena and her father stood on either side of the stage.

The brief rest did not completely eliminate the fatigue from their long journey, but they were both captivated by the scene before them, holding their breath in awe.

Elena stood at the front, wrapped in a coat with family crest, her eyes scrutinizing and curious as she quietly observed Chris, the man who was about to become her husband, looking at this powerful, perhaps tyrannical, man.

On the other side of the auditorium stood a heartbreaking crowd.

Two women dressed in black mourning clothes, struggling to hold back their tears, stood at the front of the crowd; they were the widows of two fallen centurions.

They had young children nestled beside them, their innocent eyes filled with unease and a vague longing for their fathers.

Being so young, they couldn't grasp the meaning of death; they only vaguely knew that their father had gone to a very far place.

Among the most eye-catching figures in the crowd were five men in old military uniforms that were washed clean but bore unmistakable signs of repair. They stood ramrod straight, but their faces showed undisguised shame.

These are the only five remaining soldiers from the two hundred-man squads that escorted Elena to Tavitsky. They are saddened by their survival and even somewhat restless... because their fallen comrades' wives and children are right beside them.

In the absolute silence, in the shadows of the side of the auditorium, several players wearing the same dark green defense uniforms but holding different instruments took a deep breath at the signal of the band conductor holding a baton, preparing to begin playing music.

The instruments they held were not traditional court instruments, but modified horns with a more powerful tone, heavy timpani, and several cellos with a wide range.

Chris suddenly raised his hand to stop their music.

Because at this moment, he realized it was inappropriate... In this sorrowful time, the more moving and stirring the music, the more blasphemous it becomes.

In the silence, Chris stepped down from the platform, his steps steady and powerful, first heading towards the five remaining soldiers.

Without saying much, Chris's gaze swept over the wounds on each of them, and then he personally and solemnly pinned the "Second-Class Guardian of the Kingdom" medals, which gleamed with a cold metallic luster and were engraved with shields and crossed swords, onto their chests.

"The kingdom and I will remember your loyalty and sacrifice."

Chris's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for people nearby to hear him.

Five soldiers stood tall, their eyes brimming with hot tears, a mixture of pride and grief… The sacrifice of the two hundred-man squads was recognized by the Supreme Commander, a final consolation for their bloody battles and the loss of all their comrades.

Chris saluted them in respect, and then he went to the orphans and widows.

The players holding their instruments whispered among themselves, seemingly moved by the scene.

Chris walked up to them and knelt down, looking directly at the children who had lost their fathers.

He picked up two smaller but equally gleaming medals: one for Centurion Alvin, who died a heroic death, and the other for Centurion Torres, who bravely sacrificed himself to cover the rear and buy precious time for everyone.

Chris personally placed this heavy honor around the necks of the two oldest children, who seemed to understand what had happened.

The cold metal pressed against the child's tender skin, as if conveying the father's last passion and glory. The older child looked at the young yet majestic regent in bewilderment, his little hands tightly clutching the medal on his chest, and began to sob softly.

Chris stood up, his gaze sweeping over all the widows and children, his voice still trying to remain calm.

"From this day forward, your sons will be the sons of the Kingdom. The Kingdom will raise them, teach them knowledge, martial arts, and loyalty, until they become true Bagnians."

Your parents are the parents of the kingdom. The kingdom will support them until the end of their lives, ensuring they have enough to eat and wear and enjoy their old age in peace.

This is my promise to the bloodline of the Kingdom's Guardians, an promise that will last forever.

His words, though lacking in flowery language, were more powerful than anything else at that moment.

The medals they were given meant that, as long as Chris was alive, they could continue to collect enough supplies from the supply and marketing cooperative to ensure they wouldn't starve or freeze to death.

Young children can also study for free until they turn eighteen.

Upon hearing His Highness Chris's acknowledgment of her husband's sacrifice, the widows could no longer contain themselves, and their suppressed sobs rose softly amidst the solemn music.

Elena watched all of this quietly.

Quiet and still, like a flower on a high mountain.

Chris straightened up, his gaze sweeping across the entire hall. Finally, his eyes landed on the other side of the auditorium, meeting Elena's gaze for the first time.

In Elena's amber eyes, Chris saw scrutiny, curiosity, and even a hint of love... This love might be an act, or it might be real.

However, what Elena saw and felt in Chris at that moment was by no means kindness or welcome; there surged something that was forcibly suppressed, yet still chilling... anger.

That anger wasn't a blazing fire, but rather lava buried deep beneath the polar glaciers—cold, heavy, and carrying destructive power. It wasn't directed at the widows and orphans present, nor at the wounded soldier, but directly at her… to put it bluntly, it was disgust with stupidity.

Why! ?
Just as Elena was unaware of the significance of her presence, her delicate yet slightly pale face showed no remorse or understanding, apart from the discomfort and slight confusion pierced by that cold, angry gaze.

On the contrary, Earl Lawrence, the patriarch of the Tia family, realized something, but under the watchful eyes of everyone, he could not say anything.

Upon seeing this, Chris smiled, a smile filled with coldness.

He had originally planned to meet with Elena after the ceremony to have a proper talk.

However, at this moment, Chris had no interest in meeting her or taking care of his fiancée's feelings... He had too many things to do.

The captured Poseidonian spy, the nascent Mechanicus crusade, and the crucial Harvest Festival—Chris must return to Waterladnoy before the festival, then ascend the throne and get married during the holiday.

He officially became the sole ruler of the Kingdom of Bagnia.

……

Watching Chris turn and leave, Elena felt a mix of emotions, incredibly complex.

Count Tia, who witnessed the whole thing from the sidelines, sighed and then gestured for Elena to follow him.

The Tia family had a very nice place to live in the Anvil Fortress, right inside the castle where Chris lived, and they even had servants to attend to them. For a moment, they seemed to have returned to the life of a great nobleman.

After the two entered a small meeting room accompanied by their entourage, Lawrence Tia immediately asked the entourage to leave. The moment the latter closed the wooden door of the small meeting room, he eagerly turned to look at his daughter, his face serious.

“You did something wrong.” Elena was stunned, bewildered, and couldn’t understand what her father was saying.

Lawrence continued.

"When the family was in trouble, do you remember what I said to you when I told you to take the family members and leave?"

Her father's serious expression made Elena subconsciously take the situation seriously, and she began to think back carefully.

"...Leave with the people to a refuge, and when the time is right, head to Bagnia immediately...Father, I did it..."

"No, you didn't do it, you even forgot the most important sentence!"

Lawrence's tone was not heavy, even very gentle, a consequence of his long imprisonment. He could never speak loudly to others, but at this moment, his words were like the sharpest dagger piercing Elena's heart.

"...If necessary, discard all burdens, take your guards, and arrive in Bagnia as quickly as possible to complete the deal with Prince Chris."

After saying this, Lawrence paused for a moment, giving Elena some time to think, before continuing.

Why didn't you do it?

“I…I…Grandmother, the other clansmen are not a burden…”

Elena's voice trembled slightly, yet remained firm.

"At that time, they were a burden!"

Lawrence interrupted her, his tone resolute, his eyes so cold that Elena felt like a stranger.

"Elena, you made a fatal mistake, not in your mercy, but in your failure to see the true nature of the situation and the power dynamics!"

He took a step forward, lowering his voice even further, yet each word carried immense weight.

"You think that if you follow my instructions, take only a few elite guards, and arrive at Anvil Fortress as quickly as possible to complete the marriage contract with Chris, what will happen to your grandmother and the other people you abandoned in Minicia? They will be captured by Charles's men immediately, right?"

Elena's face paled slightly, and she nodded.

"So, what's next?"

Lawrence stared intently into his daughter's eyes.

"Then they became hostages in Charles's hands, and once you marry Chris and become the future Queen of Bagnia, how do you think King Charles will treat these hostages?"

Elena was stunned; she had never thought about it from this perspective before.

Earl Lawrence's face revealed a smile that was almost cold and worldly-wise.

"He will treat them like royalty! He will provide them with the best food and drink, and he will never let them suffer the slightest grievance... In fact, he will treat them with even more care and consideration than he would treat his own court nobles!"

"Why... why?"

Elena was puzzled; this completely overturned her understanding of enemies and prisoners.

"why?"

Lawrence's voice carried a hint of sarcasm.

"Because that's the rule of the game in politics. Because you married Chris, you became part of the power core of the Kingdom of Bagnia. Your family became an extremely delicate and valuable link between two hostile kingdoms."

King Charles would treat them as valuable bargaining chips, not prisoners to be disposed of at will. He needed them alive, healthy, as potential negotiating leverage for the future, or... as tokens of goodwill towards Bagnia, seeking some form of appeasement or even a deal.”

He paused, then emphasized his words.

"Think of His Majesty Auckland, think of Chris's father, who defected to Minicia, and because of something that led to Charles's father, the former king of Minicia, being killed by assassins sent by Chris."

Isn't this hatred deep enough?
But how did King Charles treat His Majesty the Lord of Auckland?
He was placed under house arrest in a comfortable palace in the capital, where he lived a life of luxury, far more comfortable than most of the great nobles in Minicia, except that he could not leave!

why?
Because His Majesty the Prince of Auckland is Prince Chris's father, as long as he is alive, he is a valuable asset; that's politics.

Hostages are only dangerous when you don't care about them or when they've lost their value. Otherwise, they're the safest!

Lawrence watched as the color drained from his daughter's face and continued his merciless analysis.

“You were supposed to be Chris’s bride, the future queen of Bagnia.”

At that time, we, your father, your grandmother, and your people, who were captured by Minicia, were no longer lambs to the slaughter, but 'distinguished guests' whom King Charles had to carefully protect!
Not only did he not dare to harm us, he tried his best to ensure our safety and dignity, so as not to completely enrage Chris or cut off any possible channels of contact in the future.

"but……"

Earl Lawrence's voice suddenly turned cold, filled with deep sorrow.

"You chose another path. You hid and waited with your entire family, giving the Miniseyan pursuers countless opportunities to surround and intercept you!"
You have caused two elite hundred-man squads, dispatched by Prince Chris and which were supposed to provide crucial support or carry out other important missions at critical moments, to be embroiled in a desperate and arduous battle in order to protect your large, slow-moving force!
They were almost completely wiped out. Those brave soldiers shouldn't have died there. Their sacrifice was, in a way, wasted because of your flawed decisions!

Did you see that?
Just now in the auditorium, what was that cold anger in Prince Chris's eyes?
That wasn't directed at the widows and orphans, nor at the shame of the five surviving soldiers; it was directed at you! His anger wasn't about your people being implicated, but about your failure to uphold the spirit of the contract, your failure to make the choice most beneficial to completing the deal at the most crucial moment!

He is furious because you made the kingdom pay an extremely heavy price that could have been avoided... two hundred loyal and fearless warriors.

In his view, you, as commander and as the object of the marriage alliance, have seriously neglected your duties. You have allowed the kingdom's strength to be needlessly drained of blood for a 'burden' that could have been preserved!

Earl Lawrence let out a long sigh, his exhaustion tinged with lingering fear.

"Elena, my daughter, you must understand. Prince Chris, or rather the future King Chris, is not a monarch who acts on emotion."

His kingdom, his army, and every decision he made revolved around cold, ironclad rules: efficiency, power, cost, and result.

Your hesitation and so-called 'reluctance' today have cost loyal soldiers their lives on the battlefield and nearly brought our entire family to ruin in politics.

If it weren't for... if Chris hadn't ultimately chosen to honor the marriage, we might now be cold corpses like those soldiers, or worse, tools Charles used to vent his anger and humiliate Bagnia.

The small meeting room was deathly silent.

Elena stood there, her body trembling slightly. Her father's words shattered her understanding and the previously hidden feelings of love and grievance like a heavy hammer.

She finally understood the root of Chris's cold anger, and finally saw the cruel and foolish price behind her "merciful" choice.

Her proud aristocratic sense of duty appears so pale and powerless in the face of true political ironclad rules and the logic of power, even... harming herself and others.

Her delicate face was completely drained of color, and her amber eyes held only shock, shame, and a bewilderment that had utterly shattered her worldview.

Looking at her father, she realized for the first time so clearly how far and difficult it was for her to become a suitable marriage partner, a companion who could survive in Chris's cold, anvil-like world.

"My biggest regret is that I only taught you the methods, but not the wisdom... Elena, I hope you will have a chance to make up for it in the future."

(End of this chapter)